Chair.



No. 733,803. PATENTED JULY'M, 1903.

. G. 0. BLACK.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1902. H0 MODEL.

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No. 733,803. I PATBNTBD JULY 14, 1903.

G. (1-. BLACK.

CHAIR.

urnmn'mn FILED my 29, 1902.

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Patented. July 14, 1903.

"PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES 0. BLACK, OF HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA.

CHAIIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 733,803, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed May 29, 1902. Serial No. 109,487. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES 0. BLACK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Healdsburg, in the county of Sonoma and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and ex-' act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

The invention is what might be termed a wheeled litter or stretcher, and relates to devices for lifting invalids or sick persons out of bed, to move them from one bed to anfound. convenient is that of dressing a corpse for burial.

The above and many other uses to which the device is adapted will become apparent from the following description of the constrnction'and operation.

The object of the present invention is to produce a device of the character described which shall be strong and durable in use,

simple of construction, conveniently and easily operated, and which may be readily adjusted and regulated to meet various requirements to which such device might be sub jected. The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, reference being had to them:-

companying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing in dotted lines the parts adjusted for enabling the patient to sit up. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the detachable bath-tub. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section through one of the telescoping side bars of the stretcherframe.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a supportingbase, the lower part 2 of which is fiat andpreferably elliptical in configuration. The upper part of the base consists of a bellshaped extension 2, rising from the center of the part 2.

3 denotes a post or supporting-standard fixed in the upper side of the bell-shaped part of the base to the rear of the center thereof and extending upwardly a sufficient distance for the proper operation of the parts.

Immediately in front of the fixed standard 3 is a movable standard 4, which is part of the piston of a pneumatic lift-pump contained in said -bell-shaped base and which may be of any suitable construction; but as this forms no part of my invention I have not deemed it necessary to show or describe the same, except that it may be operated by a foot-lever 5, projecting through a slot 6 in the bell-shaped part 2 of the base.

Fixed upon the upper end of the movable standard 4 is a supporting-head 7, having a cylindrical offset 7" rising therefrom and encircling said fixed standard 3' and being adapted to slide vertically thereon.

8 denotes a lug extending forwardly from the upper end of the cylindrical offset '7 and having fixed thereto a vertically-disposed brace-bar 9, connected at its upper end to a collar 10, which also encircles said fixed standard and is adapted to slide vertically thereon.

12 denotes what :I shall term for convenience of referenco a stretcher-frame, consistin g of the parallel telescoping side bars 13, connected at their outer ends by a cross-bar 14: and at their inner ends by two cross-bars 15, which. are in turn fixed to the supportinghead 7. The side bars 13 consist of the inner fixed sections-13 and the outer movable sections 13", the outer sections being adapted to slide within the inner sections, which are preferably of aconfiguration shown in Fig. at of the drawings and may be constructed of light bars of channel-iron. The parallel bars comprising the outer section 13 are provided with stops 14to limit their inward movement in the bars 13%, and just beyond these stops the bars 13 are jointed, as at 15, by means of a rule-joint to permit the outer end of the stretcher to be raised for a purpose hereinafter to appear; but the rule-joint will not allow the said outer end to fall below the horizontal level of the rest of the stretcher. Any suitable means may be provided for locking this end of the stretcher-frame against upward movement when itis desired that the entire frame be rigid. Such means may consist of sliding bolts mounted upon the side of the bars 13 and adapted to slide in keepers on either side of the joint 15.

16 denotes a series of small hooks disposed along the length of the side bars 13 on the inner side thereof, the purpose of which will soon be apparent.

17 denotes supplemental side bars ext-ending parallel with the bars 13 and adjacent thereto and having their outer ends pivotally connected to the inner side of the bars 13, as at 17", and their inner ends connected by a cross-bar 17", thus forming an auxiliary swinging section at the inner end of the stretcher-frame, the inner end of said auxiliary frame being supported by a bolt 17 or other suitable means to one of the oross-bars 15 of the stretcher-frame. The bars 17 are also provided with hooks to be used for a similar purpose as hooks 16 on the bars 13.

18 denotes brace-rods extending from the bars 13 to the collar 10, thus affording additional support to the stretcher-frame, and 19 denotes legs hinged to the outer end of the stretcher-frame and adapted when in use to support the outer end of the stretcher-frame and are used when the bath-tub is attached to give the device a firm support during the bathing process and are swung up beneath the bars 13 when not in use.

20 denotes straps or bands, which are of a length corresponding substantially with the width of the stretcher-frame and are provided at their ends with eyelets which are adapted to be hooked over the hooks 16 of the side bars of the stretcher-frame. These straps may be of any suitable number and are to support the patient when being carried or raised on the stretcher, and when it is desired to remove or restrain a delirious or violently-insane person the straps may be disposed above and below the patients body. The said straps may consist of any suitable material, such as rubber, leather, or woven fabric. When the device is used for bathing purposes, rubber straps are preferably employed. r

21 denotes an operating cord or cable connected at one end to the outer end of the stretcher frame and passing upwardly through suitable guides 22 and over a pulley 23 upon the upper end of the fixed standard 3, thence downwardly through other guides 24 to a Windlass 25, fixed on the lower end of a rearwardly-extending open framework 26, fixed to the base and to the standard 3. The said framework 26 consists of a verticallydisposed bar 27, connected at its upper end to the standard 3 by a horizontal bar 28, fixed to a collar 29, encircling said standard, and at its lower end it is connected to the upper part of the base by a cross-bar 30. Interposed between these two cross-bars is a horizontally-arranged scale'beam 31, connected at its outer end to the bar 27 and at its inner end to a collar 32, also encircling the standard 3. Upon this scale-beam is indicated a graduated scale, the gradnations beginning at the standard end of the beam with 100 and increasing outwardly to 350 or more, thus indicating that normally the device will support and raise any weight of one hundred pounds or under and that upon adjustment of the counterbalancing-weight to a certain mark or position along the scale beam a weight corresponding to the mark indicated can be safely raised by the device without danger of upsetting or tilting the same, the

highest numeral of the scale indicating the greatest capacity of the device.

33 denotes the counterbalancing-weight, which consists of a heavy bar adapted to slide on the cross-pieces 28 and 30 and on the scale-beam 31. The weight 33 may be provided near its lower end with a set-screw which :when screwed inwardly impinges against the cross-piece 30 and locks the weight at the proper position against accidental movement, which might result in overturning the device.

It will be observed that the framework 26 of the weight-bar 33,which is carried by and shiftable on said frame or counterpoise element 26 toward and from the standard, the

stretcher-frame without danger of overturning.

34 denotes rubber-ti red caster-wheels swiveled to the lower side of the base, which will enable the device to be noiselessly pushed from one place to another by means of handles 35, which are connected and suitably.

braced to the upper part of the base, extend ing rearwardly therefrom and being provided with grips 36. l

37 denotes a detachable bath-tub, preferably constructed of some flexible waterproof material, such as rubber cloth or the like, and is provided along its upper edges with loops or eyelets 38, which are adapted to be hooked onto hooks 39, depending from the lower side of the side and end bars of the stretcher-frame. The tub when attached to said hooks will be suspended immediately below the body of the person lying upon the stretcher and in convenient position for bath ing the patient.

40 denotes a table fixed to the upper end of the head 7 and may consist of one or more folding leaves or sections, which are adapted when unfolded to be supported by the bars of the stretcher-frame and to lie in convenient reach of the patient when supported in sitting position by the stretcher.

The operation of the deviceis as follows: When it is desired to move a patient or lift him from bed, the straps are first slipped underthe prostratebodyofthepatient. Then the stretcher-frame is elevated by the pneumatic pump to a height that will enable the device .to be rolled up against the foot of the bed, the stretcher-frame projecting forwardly over the bed. The frame is now lowered until the side bars thereof lie alongside the patient and on a level with the bed. The straps are now fastened to the hooks on the side bars and the pump again operated to raise the patient from the bed sufficiently to allow the device to be rolled from over the bed and to the place where it is desired to place the patient, or should it be desired to bathe the person the tub is now attached beneath the frame, as hereinbefore described. If it be desired to support the patient or invalid in a sitting posture, the bolts 15 are retracted from their keepers and the Windlass operated to raise the forward end of the stretcher to the desired elevation, and, if desired, the supplemental frame 17 may be released and lowered,

- allowing the patients feet and lower limbs to be letdown, thus making a complete chair in which the sick person is completely supported, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the patient may be lifted, moved, or raised to any desired position wholly by mechanical means and without material effort on the part of the attendant or touching of the patient, except to place the supporting-straps beneath him.

connection with the'accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my device will be fully understood, it is thought, without requiring a further explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a fixed vertical standard rising from said base, a verticallyadjustable standard havinga sliding engagement with said fixed standard and carrying a supporting head, an extensible stretcherframe supported by said head, said frame consisting of an inner fixed section and an outer telescoping section, the outer section being in two parts one hinged upon the other, the

' hinged section adapted to be raised upwardly,

From the foregoing description, taken in and an adjustable counterbalancing-weight supported by said fixed standard, substan-- ment with said fixed standard and carrying a supporting head, an extensible stretcherframe supported by said head, said frame consisting of an inner fixed section and an outer telescoping section, the outer section being in two parts one hinged upon the other, the hinged section adapted to be raised upwardly, means for raising said hinged section and holding the same to any desired degree, an

auxiliary swinging frame pivoted to swing within said inner fixed section, means for holding said hinged frame in a horizontal position, and an adjustable counterbalancingweight adapted to slide upon an indicating scale-beam supported by laterally-projecting bars connected to the base and to said fixed standard, substantially as set forth.

. 3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a fixed vertical standard rising from said base, a verticallyadjustable standard having a sliding engagement with said fixed standard and carrying a supporting head, an extensible stretcherframe supported by said head, said frame consisting of an inner fixed section and an Outer telescoping section, the outer section being in two parts one hinged upon the other, the hinged section adapted to be raised upwardly, means for raising said hinged section and holding the same to any desired degree, said means consisting of a cord or cable connected to the outer end of said hinged section and passing over a pulley on top of said fixed standard, thence to a Windlass fastened to a fixed portion of the device, supporting-legs hinged to the outer end of said hinged section and adapted to be swung upwardly beneath said hinged section when not in use, an auxiliary swinging frame pivoted to swing within said inner fixed section, means for holding said hinged frame in a horizontal position, and an adjustable counterbalancing-weight' adapted to slide upon an indicating scalebeam, supported by laterally-projecting bars connected to the base and to said fixed stand ard, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES 0. BLACK.

Witnesses;

W. W. BARHAM, N. B. COFFMAN. 

